I was walking along the creek that runs thru the campground, looking for tracks of whatever animals walked on the sandy path. I walked thru a narrow section between rocks, the creek and a steep hillside. I entered a small meadow and began walking into it. got approximately halfway into meadow when I started to get a tingling sensation on the back of my neck, as if something was watching me. I turned around and saw a large creature squatted down in the middle of the path I just walked on. The animal stood up and very quickly walked up the brushy embankment. There was no sound at all, no branches or twigs snapping, and then it was gone. I walked back to the point were I saw it squatted and it had left a single, dark brown and black stool on the path. I could not judge sex of the animal, only that it was brown, walked on two legs and was approximately six feet tall. the speed it covered the terrain and its stealth were both impressive and somewhat scary.

OTHER WITNESSES: no

TIME AND CONDITIONS: afternoon, bright sunny day

ENVIRONMENT: brush, rocks, creek bottom

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Kevin Withers:

Matt Moneymaker and I investigated the site and found that the witness's description matched the location. The San Luis Rey River cuts through a narrow barranca that is concealed by vegetation, steep walls, and a tree canopy.

The sighting lasted no more than ten seconds - the animal took off as soon as the witness turned around to look. It moved up the side of the barranca quickly and quietly "like a ghost" and left behind a human-like stool. The witness heard no sound and smelled no odor, and he found no tracks on the dry, sandy path.

At the time, the twenty-two year old witness was in the Navy, stationed in San Diego, and had ten years of hunting experience. He had camped at this location several times before. On this hike he carried a field knife and a walking stick.

Over the years there have been a number of sightings in this area which includes Palomar Mountain, Cleveland National Forest, and a number of Indian reservations.